Welcoming New Patients at Our Santa Rita Road Office

Walking into a new dental office can feel a bit intimidating. We get that. You don’t know the team, you’re not sure what to expect, and half the time you’re already nervous about whatever brought you in. Our goal is to change that feeling before you even sit in the chair.

Our Special Offers

A website banner for Zhao Dental in Pleasanton featuring a smiling woman with curly hair backlit by natural sunlight, promoting an all-inclusive dental implant and crown special.

Dental Implants & Crowns:

$3,699

All-inclusive- implant and crown. Excluding bone graft and sinus lift. Insurance may cover a portion of the fee.

A website banner for Zhao Dental in Pleasanton featuring a close-up of a patient’s bright, healthy smile with beautifully aligned teeth, promoting a cosmetic treatment special.

Veneers:

$1,250

Insurance may cover a portion of the fee.

A website banner for Zhao Dental in Pleasanton showing a dental assistant treating a male patient in a dental chair, promoting a free teeth whitening kit special for new patients.

Free Whitening Special

Free whitening kit to all new patients with exam/x- ray/cleaning.

A website banner for Zhao Dental in Pleasanton featuring a smiling woman holding up a custom take-home teeth whitening tray, promoting a home whitening special.

Whitening Trays:

$450

Please mention website special when scheduling appointment.

⚠️ Important: Please mention these website specials to our front desk team when scheduling your appointment!

Dr. Shirley Zhao, DDS

Our Office Philosophy: Happy. Private. Family.

We believe your dental experience should be as comfortable as it is effective. Our office environment is defined by three core pillars:

A gradient shield icon fading from light teal-green to soft purple on a transparent checkerboard background, used to represent verified credentials, patient protection, or accepted dental insurance plans at the Pleasanton office.

Comprehensive Dental Care

Since 2013

What Sets Shirley Zhao Apart?

We pride ourselves on being a one-stop destination for your oral health. Unlike offices that refer you out for every specialized need, we provide comprehensive dental care under one roof:

01

Dental Implants

Permanent, natural-feeling solutions for missing teeth.

02

Root Canals

Gentle endodontic therapy to save your natural teeth and eliminate pain.

03

Cosmetic Dentistry

From whitening to full smile makeovers, we create aesthetic results you’ll love.

What Happens at Your First Dental Visit

You walk in. We greet you by name. That’s how every new patient consultation starts at our Pleasanton office. Trust starts on day one; it doesn’t build itself over time.

A circular cropped portrait of a smiling dental team member with long dark hair, wearing blue scrubs in front of a bright clinic window at Dr. Shirley Zhao's office in Pleasanton, CA.

“I wish I’d come in sooner.” This is the most common thing we hear. The relief of finally knowing where your oral health stands feels good.

Dental Services for Families and Working Adults

Your schedule is packed. Most families we see in Pleasanton have two working parents, kids in sports, and zero free time. That’s why we handle everything from pediatric exams to wisdom tooth extractions in one place.

Comprehensive Care for Every Age

A cozy office beverage station featuring a coffee maker, water dispenser, and a large plush teddy bear sitting in a chair next to a tropical ocean wall art panel.

Anxiety-Free Appointments

For the little ones (or adults!) who get nervous, nitrous oxide makes a huge difference. Most patients relax within minutes, and the appointment goes smoothly.

01

For Adults

Routine exams, dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, and BPA-free composite fillings. No referral is needed for scaling and root planing if we find early gum trouble.

02

For Teens

Wisdom tooth evaluations and sports-related emergency care.

03

For School-Age Kids

Dental sealants to protect molars and hygiene instructions they’ll remember.

04

For Toddlers & Young Kids

Pediatric cleanings and habit counseling for thumb sucking.

Urgent Dental Care vs. Routine Appointments

You wake up at 2 a.m. with a throbbing jaw, or your kid takes a fall at the Pleasanton Sports Park. Knowing the difference between an emergency and a routine visit is key.

When to Seek Same-Day Attention

A graphic illustration within a beige circle showing a tooth being removed or extracted from a pink gum socket, on a transparent checkerboard background.

A knocked-out tooth (bring the tooth with you!)

A graphic illustration showing a healthy tooth next to a swollen, inflamed pink gum line, representing gingivitis or gum disease, on a transparent checkerboard background.

Facial or gum swelling that won’t go down.

A cartoon graphic illustration of a sad, aching tooth covered in brown spots to represent tooth decay and cavities, set against a transparent checkerboard background.

A toothache so bad you can’t sleep or eat.

A colorful graphic illustration of a human tooth sitting in pink gums, highlighting a targeted area on the tooth root, against a transparent checkerboard background.

An abscess or visible infection.

When to Schedule a Routine Visit

Mild sensitivity, a small chip with no pain, or a slightly loose tooth can typically wait for a scheduled slot. However, remember that routine exams catch these problems while they are “simple fillings” before they become “emergency crowns.” Delaying treatment for dental infections can lead to serious systemic health risks.

What We Offer

Our Wide Range of Dental Services

At Smiles Dental Spa, your trusted Tracy dentist, we combine advanced technology with compassionate care to deliver the full spectrum of dental services. Our experienced team combines advanced dental technology with a compassionate approach to provide state-of-the-art care in a warm, stress-free environment at Smiles Dental Spa in Tracy.

Minimalist icon of a tooth with dental braces, representing orthodontic services at Zhao Dental by Dr. Shirley Zhao.

Orthodontist

Walking through West High, you see a lot of metal and ceramic smiles. Being an Orthodontist means more than just straight teeth; it’s about making sure your bite works right. After the braces come off, we provide retainers to keep that new smile in place. We love seeing our patients gain confidence as their teeth align.

Dental Examination & Dental Hygienist

The backbone of our office is the Dental Hygienist. They are the ones who make sure your dental cleaning is thorough and comfortable. During your visit, they’ll handle your oral exam and cleaning to spot problems early.

Green minimalist icon of healthy teeth, representing periodontal therapy and gum disease treatment at Zhao Dental by Dr. Shirley Zhao.

Periodontist

Gum health is the foundation of your mouth. As periodontists, we look for signs of gum disease that often go unnoticed. If your gums bleed when you brush, you might need scaling and root planing, which is basically a deep cleaning under the gum line.

Green line-art icon of a sparkling tooth representing restorative oral surgery and dental implants by Dr. Shirley Zhao.

Oral Surgeon

Sometimes a regular checkup turns into something more. If you need an Oral Surgeon, you don't want to drive all the way to Stockton or Modesto. We handle things right here in town. If you’re dealing with a tooth that just can't be saved, we offer tooth extractions to get you out of pain fast.

Green line-art illustration of a dental crown or veneer being placed on a tooth, representing prosthodontic smile restoration by Dr. Shirley Zhao.

Prosthodontist

If you have missing teeth, a Prosthodontist can help you feel whole again. We offer dentures (full and partial) that look natural and stay put. For a more permanent fix, many Tracy residents ask about dental implants.

Pediatric Dentist

We know kids can be nervous. Our Pediatric Dentist team makes things fun. We start with pediatric oral examinations to get them used to the chair. We also offer dental sealants and fluoride treatments to stop cavities before they start. If a tooth does get a hole, we do pediatric fillings.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Everyone wants a bright smile for those photos at Tracy City Center. As your Cosmetic Dentist, we offer teeth whitening to get rid of coffee or wine stains. If you have chips or gaps, porcelain veneers or composite bonding can fix them in just a visit or two. We love doing a full smile makeover to help people feel better about how they look.

Green medical cross icon with a tooth, representing urgent care and same-day emergency dentistry services by Dr. Shirley Zhao, DDS.

Emergency Help

Tooth pain doesn't wait for Monday morning. If you have an Emergency involving a broken tooth or a swelling, call us. We provide an emergency examination right away. Our team handles emergency tooth extractions and abscess drainage to stop infections from spreading.

Expert Care Led by Dr. Shirley Zhao

Meet Our Care Team

At our Pleasanton office, you aren’t just another chart—you’re a neighbor. Led by Dr. Shirley Zhao, our team is dedicated to changing the way you feel about the dentist. Dr. Zhao earned her Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of the Pacific and has spent her career mastering the latest in dental technology. She is known throughout the Tri-Valley for her impeccable work in dental implants and cosmetic restoration, helping patients achieve “the perfect smile” with a gentle, modern touch.

A Team That Listens

Our care team—from our friendly front desk staff to our gentle dental hygienists—operates with one goal: to make your visit happy, private, and family-oriented.

Dr. Shirley Zhao DDS, a female dentist in Pleasanton wearing clear glasses and navy blue scrubs, smiling and looking to the side against a solid green background.

Dr. Shirley Zhao, DDS

Doctor

A smiling female dental team member with shoulder-length wavy brown hair, wearing black glasses and a black medical scrub top, posed against a solid green studio backdrop.

Susan

Office Manager

Insurance & New Patient Process

We work with most major dental insurance plans, including Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Aetna, Guardian, and many more. Our team verifies your benefits before you even sit in the chair.

Easy Start for Pleasanton Residents

A warm, comfortable dental office waiting room featuring three cushioned armchairs, a side table with a floral arrangement, and a large oil painting of red flowers on the wall.

Testimonials

Hear From Our Patients

We believe our best referrals come from the smiles we’ve helped build. Here is what your neighbors are saying about their experiences at our Santa Rita Road office:

4.8 (100+ reviews)

Real Stories from the Pleasanton Community

Contact Us

Join Our Growing Dental Family

Whether you are looking for a routine cleaning or a full smile makeover, we invite you to experience the difference that compassionate, comprehensive care makes.

A simple green geometric map marker icon with a central point, displayed on a transparent background for website navigation links.

Location

1400 Santa Rita Road, Suite L, Pleasanton, CA 94566